A lot changed for Israel around the time of Joshua's death. New generations came along who had no first-hand knowledge of God's might displayed to their preceding generations. Failure became the word of the day as the various tribes attempted but were unable to take full possession of their respective territories.
Along with this failure to conquer came another more serious failure: failure to remain true to their God.
The combination of these two failures make Israel's story at this time in history painful and even frustrating to read.
It all started though with forgetfulness. Perhaps however, forgetfulness was not as much the problem as it was the former generation's failure to educate their successors! Laziness on the part of former generations led to the ignorance of the following generations in Israel's unique and intimate relationship with the LORD God.
Israel's failures to fully conquer their Promised Land only further complicated their situation because they no longer had current stories to tell their children of great victories that perhaps the children had even witnessed first-hand. Israel's 'momentum' as a nation of God's demonstrated power slowly ground to nearly a halt.
Unfortunately, this story speaks all too clearly of God's people today. The combined infiltration of worldliness and forgetfulness make the Church today a powerless and laughable abstract. No, this is not entirely the case everywhere, but it is much the case in mainstream Christianity - at least in the USA.
To make matters worse, worldliness and forgetfulness compliment and feed off one another.
A revival of God's testimony and man's faithfulness is necessary. The Church must rise again (in pure devotion and obedience) to a position of conquest and, in that conquest, educate its own that it is God Who is the Conqueror. The Church must set about doing that which there is no way it could accomplish on its own so that God can intervene! But God will not intervene if the Church is impure and unholy, so the Church needs to 'get it right' until victory is seen! Then, the Church must facilitate growing victorious momentum by educating its succeeding generations that the victory they experience is in fact not abstract, but the real handiwork of God!
Remember God! Forget the world!
Okay, so maybe finger-pointing at the Church is not the way to go here... Maybe I need to go find a mirror...
Father, I am experiencing failure right now. Frankly, it seems I am gaining momentum in it too. Help me to first recognize then let go of any worldly thing that brings defeat to my life. Then, help me to set out to accomplish that to which You direct me (which is entirely beyond my capability) remembering and testifying of You as I go.
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